Bequests & Wills

 

Gifts in wills form the foundation of many Australian churches and helps with our next generation of young LGBTI Christians. Without them, many churches and charities simply would not exist. Unfortunately, only 7.5% of Australians actually include gifts to a charity in their will, and yet we are generally considered to be one of the most generous countries in the support we give to charities. Options for leaving a bequest There are two main ways to include a bequest in your Will:

• A specified amount: If you’d like to make a specific bequest then simply state the dollar amount in your Will that you wish to leave to MCC Good Shepherd Western Sydney Inc.

• A residuary bequest: For this option you can bequeath the remainder, or a percentage, of your estate once your loved ones and expenses have been taken care of. Legal wording for your bequest The following standard wording can be included in your Will: “I bequeath to Metropolitan Community Church Good Shepherd Western Sydney  … (the amount of money; the percentage or residue of your estate; or the details of your property or shares). My bequest is to be used for the general purposes of Metropolitan Community Church Good Shepherd Western Sydney . I declare that the receipt of the Church Clerk or other proper officer shall be a complete discharge of my bequest.”

 

For bequests for a defined purpose such as support for a specific Program (for example Pastor's Fund, Building Fund, Youth Ministry), or for use within a specific region, the wording above can be replaced with the following (or similar): ‘My bequest is to be used to support the building of a new church. If at the time of my death the program is no longer operating, then my bequest is to be used for the general purposes of Metropolitan Community Church Good Shepherd Western Sydney.’